Department Chair, Department of Mechanical Engineering

The University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) invites applications and nominations for the position of Chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering.

UMBC is a nationally recognized public research university distinguished by inclusive excellence, innovative teaching, a strong commitment to student success, and research that addresses complex societal challenges. The College of Engineering and Information Technology (COEIT) seeks a collaborative and visionary leader to guide the department's next phase of growth and impact in research, education, and public-impact engagement.

The Department Chair serves as the chief academic and administrative officer of the department and reports directly to the Dean of COEIT. The Chair is responsible for advancing the department's educational, research, and outreach missions while serving as a member of the College's leadership team.

The successful candidate will join the department and college during an exciting period of strategic planning and growth. Working collaboratively with faculty, staff, students, alumni, industry partners, and university leadership, the Chair will help shape the future of engineering education, research, innovation, and public impact at UMBC.

The Chair will:

Provide strategic leadership and long-range planning for the department. Support faculty recruitment, retention, development, and success. Strengthen undergraduate and graduate education. Ensure continual accreditation of the offered programs Foster research growth, scholarly excellence, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Advance student success, belonging, and professional preparation. Manage departmental resources, facilities, personnel, and operations. Develop relationships with alumni, industry, government, and community partners. Contribute actively to college-wide strategy and leadership initiatives.

Earned doctorate in an appropriate discipline. Qualifications for appointment with tenure at the rank of Professor ord of excellence in research, teaching, and service. Demonstrated leadership experience in academic, research, administrative, professional, or other organizational settings. Strong communication, collaboration, and interpersonal skills.

Experience supporting faculty development and student success. Experience with strategic planning, budgeting, accreditation, or program assessment. Experience leading research initiatives or interdisciplinary collaborations. Experience building partnerships with industry, government, alumni, or community organizations.

The UMBC ABET-accredited Mechanical Engineering undergraduate program links hands-on experiences and design with theoretical, experimental, and numerical analyses. The program has over 700 enrolled undergraduate students in Fall 2026, which represents a 24% increase from the previous year. Students have opportunities for research, practical training, and internships. The department also offers M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Mechanical Engineering. In addition to three teaching faculty, the department has 19 tenured and tenure-track faculty, leading externally funded research projects in biomechanical engineering;

dynamic systems and design, including control, robotics, and autonomous systems; solid mechanics and materials science; and thermal and fluid sciences. Faculty collaborate with colleagues across UMBC, nearby institutions, and industry.

Building on this foundation, the new chair will maintain a strong academic program and expand opportunities for hands-on learning, preparing undergraduate students for professional practice or graduate study, support faculty development, and expand the research profile and funding.

The UMBC community is dedicated to excellence in higher education through an inclusive culture that connects innovative teaching and learning, research across disciplines, and civic engagement. UMBC advances knowledge, economic prosperity, and social justice by welcoming and inspiring inquisitive minds from all backgrounds. UMBC is a minority-serving institution and Carnegie Classification R1 (very high research activity) public university with an enrollment of approximately 14,000 students.

US News & World Report consistently ranks UMBC as a national leader in diversity, innovation, and teaching.

COEIT ((Use the "Apply for this Job" box below).) is a collaborative environment composed of about 170 tenure-track and teaching…